Gear Guide 2012: Mountain Laurel Designs Cricket Tent

Your rain shell probably weighs more than this tent, which hits the sub-pound weight class without major compromise. It lacks poles, but unlike some trekking-pole tents, stability doesn’t suffer. Thanks to catenary seams (they’re curved, not straight, which creates a supertaut pitch), the three-season, double-wall shelter let our tester sleep through 30-mph winds with minimal flapping.

Setup is easy, reports an AT thru-hiker who routinely pitched it in less than four minutes (mark your poles with the correct lengths to speed the process). There’s one D-shaped side door and an eight-square-foot vestibule that adjusts in height. Shorten the support pole for more wind protection; lengthen it to increase ventilation. One 5’3” camper found the 18-square-foot interior adequate, but six-footers deemed it “cozy.” Fabric options let you choose between ultralight (silnylon) and crazy light (Cuben Fiber*). After 2,200 miles, the Cuben Fiber looked worn but worked fine.